Retro Mama Vs The Jalapenos....

DISCLAIMER: I live in central Indiana. What I do may not be appropriate for your particular region or climate. For best results, check your hardiness zone for planting dates on the back of the seed packets.

Grandpa Hill with 3 of the little ones.

So, the warm temps we’ve been experiencing have us all dreaming of the impending Spring. This time of year always has me thinking about my garden. I love the time I spend tending and harvesting the fresh vegetables with my family. It reminds me of summers spent with my Dad in his garden and putting up the produce with my Mom. You’ve never had a pickle until you’ve eaten one of Mama Hills freshly canned spears!! The old man still maintains a large garden and keeps all of his grand-kids involved with the tending of it. From running the tiller to picking vegetables, the kids are learning a valuable skill and bonding with their grandpa. My little one helped pick and then can a batch of green beans last summer. You’ve never seen someone so proud at the dinner table as when we share a jar of  “his” beans!

Stock photo of a bucket garden.

For me, stepping out the back door on a summer evening to grab a fat, warm, ripe tomato is truly one of life’s simple joys!  I love knowing that the vegetables my family eats are guaranteed completely organic. Not to mention the money saved on side dishes, condiments and sauces that are made after harvest. If you don’t have enough yard space for even a small garden you can easily have a bucket-garden. Due to construction last summer we couldn’t have our full garden. Instead we planted tomatoes and peppers in large 5 gallon buckets and left them to grow on our back patio. (For Cayuga locals, Palucci’s Pizza Express sells buckets of the perfect size for $2 each!) http://www.facebook.com/PaluccisPizza

So, the first question I always have is: What do I want from my garden? My first response is always: for the jalapenos to grow this year. Just ONCE I would like a successful jalapeno season! My three realistic choices are always zucchini, green beans and tomatoes. They are versatile in a variety of recipes, or stand alone as sides. They’re also easy to “put up” for future use. There is nothing quite as satisfying as green beans that taste garden-fresh in January!  We also make and freeze our own pizza and spaghetti sauce. Don’t be intimidated by “canning” or “putting up” your garden’s bounty. We will cover all of that this summer. I will also be available for any questions! Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a lot of specialty items such as a pressure cooker for everything. The only thing I use my pressure cooker for is canning green beans and jams. All the rest: pickles, sauces, corn, zucchini (sliced & shredded), pie fruit, peppers (if they would ever grow) etc I freeze or use the Water Bath Method. BUT I am getting ahead of myself. We’ll return to this topic in a few months!

Late February to early March is when I start planning and planting. (YES…planting) When we first started our garden journey I would go to the greenhouse in the Spring and purchase my plants and drop them in the ground. Voila..easy…but kind of expensive if you think about it. I can buy an entire packet of seeds for under $1. Also, greenhouses tend to use a lot of pesticides and fertilizer, which makes me uneasy. Plants like corn, melons, zucchini, eggplant and green beans do perfectly fine and have a long growing season if they are planted directly in the ground from seed. I usually put them in the ground in early to mid May. I just wait until we are beyond any chance of frost and the soil is starting to warm up. They grow quickly in rich, moist soil. However, jalapenos, tomatoes and broccoli I start indoors to make sure they have a good, solid season. For these I like to start at least 6 weeks before they will go into the garden. The broccoli can be started 7 – 8 weeks prior to planting. It can also survive and thrive in cooler temps. If maintained you will be eating fresh broccoli from late spring to mid-fall. (and will have plenty to put up for winter) Just make sure to cut the florets before they bloom.

To get your crops started indoors is quite simple. You can buy the indoor starter kits OR make your own! FYI, the starter kits can be reused. The first year we did this, my son and I used Dixie cups, a cookie sheet and saran wrap and it worked just fine. However, we now have grown and expanded to plastic planting cells that have their own tray and a clear plastic hood. I reuse the same ones annually.

Items needed:

• Growing vessel such as cell packs or Dixie cups. Also, a flat tray to put them in. Make sure your cell is at least 2” wide and a minimum of 2” deep. If you use a Dixie cup, poke a few tiny holes in the bottom for drainage.
• Clear plastic cover to act as a “greenhouse” for the seeds. You can use plastic wrap or plastic bags.
• Potting Soil
• Seed packets
• Colored toothpicks to mark what you’re growing. (E.g. red toothpicks in the tomatoes, green in the broccoli, etc) Otherwise, expect to be confused.
• A light source. I have a bay window in my kitchen, any sunny window will do (although not TOO bright to burn the seedlings) I suppose you    could use an artificial light source, but I won’t guarantee the results!

What to do?

• Fill your cells or Dixie cups almost to the top with fresh soil.
• Place them in the large tray. (To catch excess water)
• Plant your seeds at the depth determined by the back of your seed packet. MARK YOUR CELL!!!!! Otherwise you will end up with Cherry Tomatoes growing in your flowerbed. (YES…. this happened last summer!)
• Water but do not drown your little seeds
• Cover with the clear plastic hood and place in a warm location that has indirect minimal sunlight. I keep my seeds covered until after they germinate. Once they are a decent size I remove the clear plastic hood. (It works like a little green house.) Check the seed packet for info on each plant’s germination rules.
• Once the seedlings sprout, remove the hood/clear plastic and place them in a sunny location. (Not too bright…you don’t want to burn them!) Be sure to keep the soil moist and to rotate the tray once a day so both sides of the tray grow evenly.
• Once we are past danger of frost and the soil is starting to warm, till your garden and acclimate your plants to the outdoors by taking them outside during the day for a week. Then, plant them! Review the seed packets to see how far apart they should be planted.

My Father-in-law and son tilling our garden in 2010.

What’s going on at Retro Mama’s place this year?

• Corn: Well, we won’t be planting corn. Corn requires a lot of growing space. You have to plant a ton of it to get enough to even mess with. My parents have a huge garden so I usually pilfer all my fresh corn from them. (shhh….) Sometimes I will even hit the farmers market and buy a bunch of it to put up for winter. But grow it myself? Nah…. my minimal space is too valuable.
• Tomatoes: I intend to plant 10 - 15 Romas, 2 Cherry and 2 Beef Steak tomato plants. I use the Romas for making pizza and spaghetti sauce. They are very “meaty” with less wasted pulp and they have a deep rich flavor that makes them the perfect candidate. The Beef Steak and Cherry tomatoes are great to eat fresh, but I really don’t do anything with them once summer is over. Sometimes I will use leftover Beef Steaks in my sauces, just so they don’t go to waste but that’s not their primary purpose in life.
• Zucchini: I always put in two plants. One plant produces enough zucchini to be more than sufficient for my family to eat fresh all summer long and have plenty to put up for recipes and bread later. HOWEVER, zucchini gets lonely. A single plant doesn’t produce well and sometimes dies early. Trust me…just plant two…
• Broccoli: I’m putting in about 5 plants. As long as we keep cutting the florets we always have more than enough to eat fresh and put up enough to last us all winter long. In my experience, the more we cut the broccoli the better it grows. We tend to have produce well into the fall after everything else is brown and dead.
• Green Beans: I’ll plant 4 or 5 long rows. They take up the majority of my garden space. I “can” the majority of them. FYI, they’re not a great candidate for bucket gardens. Like the broccoli, if I continue to pick them I have fresh beans for most of the summer and into the early fall. A lot of other gardeners have told me they typically get one or two harvests and then they die off. (Maybe the beans just feel sorry for me because of the wretched jalapenos???)
• Jalapenos: Oh the bane of my existence, the flippin’ jalapenos!!! EVERY year I plant them, every year they yield minimal results. While the rest of the garden flourishes in its glorious bounty the jalapenos stubbornly refuse to yield anything more than a pepper or two. The hateful little peppers are never more than a couple inches long. Sometimes I feel like they are mocking me and the efforts I put forth. Yet, my husband and I love them…. both fresh and canned so I try and try again! I’m just not ready to admit to defeat. This year I’m going to put in 5 plants and see how they do.  If it is another epic fail, I may have to raise the white flag to those wretched peppers….

Bring Summer to Your Winter

For me, raising my family like my grandmother raised hers isn't just about saving money; it’s about an overall balanced, healthy home. For many of us, this time of year can be dreary, even sending many into depression. If you’re feeling down, rest assured you’re not alone. Many of us are affected. If you are one of the heads of the household there are things you can do for yourself and your family to combat these dark moods. Most of these things are simple things you can do around the home. Small changes can make a big difference. Think of what you love best about the Spring and Summer months and try to add them to your Winter lifestyle.

ADD LIGHT!!! Open your curtains, pull up the blinds & let your home fill with natural light where possible. Otherwise, add bright artificial lights. Studies conducted by Alfred Lewy, MD, a psychiatrist in Portland, Oregon show that a lack of natural light during the winter months is a major factor of depression. SO… It seems simple enough, turn on more lights! But it’s actually a little more complicated. The lack of light in the early morning messes up your circadian rhythm. (When your body thinks it should be awake or asleep) Adding bright lights early in the morning resets your internal clock and lets your body know its time to be up and active. Studies using dim lights had no effect on countering depression. So…Add Light During Morning Hours!!
You can see Dr. Lewy’s full article here: http://www.sadlight.com/em-articles-lewy.htm

However, with some people, not even the most well-lit waking conditions can put them in a good mood...

DECLUTTER Don’t wait for May to do your Spring cleaning! A stuffy, cluttered home makes us feel down. It’s almost as if the weight of the dirt and junk is suffocating us. You may not even see the stuff anymore because you’re used to it. Pick a room and go through EVERYTHING in it. If you haven’t used it in the last 2 years, get rid of it. With each decorative item in your hand, ask yourself if you’re willing to dust that item once a week. If the answer is no, then pitch it. I know it sounds unreasonable, and it may not be something you can do. But if you can do it, your home will become bigger and brighter. Walls that are sparingly decorated, floors that are open and clean, tables and counter-tops that are empty and shelves that are organized create an open, airy feeling to a room. Decorative items, lights and ceiling fans that are covered in dust & cobwebs feel dreary. Why do you think haunted houses in every great horror film are covered in dust and cobwebs!?! Make the cleaner in my article “Is it Safe?” and wash down the walls and fixtures. You’ll be amazed at how shiny everything is and how much “lighter” the room feels when it has been decluttered and cleaned. I recently did this to the large back room in our house that had become a “catch all”. I removed 5 garbage bags of junk, organized everything and scrubbed it from top to bottom. The room everyone typically avoided is now where I find Aiden playing almost daily. So, it does work!

AIR IT OUT During the winter, our homes are closed up and the air can become stale quickly. Of course, you cannot open all the windows to air it out without freezing out the family. But there are a few little things you can do. Grab all of your curtains, throw rugs and bedspreads and have them cleaned. Most of these items can be washed in your washing machine. Air-dry the rugs by hanging them over the backs of your kitchen chairs. For these items, I like to add a cup of vinegar to the washing cycle and use a double-shot of fabric softener on the rinse cycle.

Shampoo the carpets. Wash the walls and windows. You may not realize how much dust and grime can accumulate here. Giving them a quick wash instantly brightens the room…especially the windows, you may not realize how much light is being blocked out just from dust.

I know it’s cold, but crack open a couple windows an inch or two for about 15 minutes once a week. The amount of fresh air coming into your home will have an impact. Kick on your freshly cleaned ceiling fans to help circulate the air. (Don’t forget to wear a sweater while doing this!)  Also, don’t forget to clean or change your furnace’s air filter once a month to help keep your air quality as clean as possible.

TURN IT UP!! A quiet home can be sedative. Plug in your Ipod, put on your favorite album or radio station and crank it up. Feel energized by the music. Don't be afraid to dance, either. ESPECIALLY when your kids are home. Kitchen dancing is a favorite past-time in this house. There are evenings Aiden & I are both out of breath from rockin' out in the kitchen. The best part isn't the exercise either, it's that he WANTS to be with me and we're having a lot of fun together.




STAY ACTIVE Laying on the couch all day under a warm blanket can be so cozy, but it can have long-term negative effects. Get out of your computer chair, your recliner, wherever it is you’re relaxing and move. (Not right now though…finish my article first!) Yes…I know it’s cold and none of us really “like” being in the cold, but do it anyway. If you’re not overly ambitious with exercise, at least take a walk around the block; let the chilly wind hit your face. Play with your kids! Wrestle around on the floor. It's good for both of you. You get a little exercise combined with bonding! Not to mention there WILL BE laughing, which we all know promotes good feelings. Spend an afternoon at a roller skating rink, bowling alley, children's museum or even just a McDonald's Play Land. I can enjoy a good book & a cup of coffee while he burns pent-up energy!

Another indoor exercise that’s really easy is “Commercial Jacks”. They’re not life changing but they are great for getting your heart pumping without much effort. Sit down to watch your favorite 1 hour-long program. Instead of skipping the commercials, let them play.  Just do jumping jacks during the commercial break. This is a win-win. You get exercise AND you get to watch your favorite show guilt-free!!




BRIGHTEN YOUR PALETTE Think of your favorite summer time meals and bring them to your winter table. Bring out the red-checked picnic tablecloth and set the stage. I don’t recommend a meal of chilidogs and fries all the time, but they are a quick and easy summer meal. Chef Salads or Taco Salads are nice, bright meal options. Have chicken salad sandwiches on buns with raw veggies and dip. Try a supper of deviled eggs, hamburgers and popper-tots…instant summer fare! Add a pitcher of lemonade or sweet-tea to compliment your summer-supper. Finish the meal with a bright, summer dessert such as a Lemon Fruit Freeze. Hit your local super-market and pick up a cheap bouquet of daisies or other summer flowers to brighten the dinner table even more!

Not familiar with Popper-Tots or a Lemon Fruit Freeze? You can find the recipes below! FYI: The Lemon Fruit Freeze is a vintage recipe that I found in a Better Homes & Gardens magazine from the late 1960's. It is so light & refreshing. It compliments virtually any meal flawlessly. The unique crust is an awesome alternative to any dessert that is traditionally made with a graham-cracker crust. ENJOY!

Popper Tots 

Ingredients:

• Bacon (raw)
• Tator Tots
• Jar of sliced jalapenos
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Cut a package of bacon in half. (You want each bacon slice cut in half). Place a jalapeno slice on a tator tot and wrap it loosely in half a slice of bacon. Place on a cookie sheet. (Make sure the cookie sheet has a lip on it so the bacon grease doesn’t run onto your oven) Bake the bacon-wrapped tots at 400 until the bacon is done. Immediately place them on a large plate or serving platter and sprinkle with the cheddar cheese.

Lemon Fruit Freeze

Ingredients:

• 2/3 C butter or margarine
• 1/3 C sugar
• 7 C of Rice or Corn Chex cereal, crushed to 3 Cups
• 1 (14 oz) can of sweetened condensed milk
• ½ cup lemon juice
• 1 (21 oz) can of lemon pie filling
• 1 (17 oz) can of fruit cocktail, well drained
• 2 cups of cool-whip

Melt the butter, stir in the sugar and crumbs. (reserve 1/3 c of crumbs) Press this mix into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Bake at 300 for 12 minutes. Cool completely.
In a large mixing bowl, mix condensed milk and lemon juice. Stir in pie filling and fruit cocktail; pour over the crust. Top with cool-whip and reserved crumbs. Freeze at least 4 hours. Remove from freezer 20 minutes before serving.

Spread a Little Love (on a budget of course!)

Valentines Day is quickly approaching and it’s not just for lovers! You don’t have to be in a relationship to get the most out of this holiday. Whether you have a significant other, children or just a few friends and family, there is much reason to celebrate. You will find that showing those who are dearest to your heart know how much they mean is abundantly rewarding for everyone.... and what better time to do it than on Valentines Day!?!

So now, we think HOW to make this day as special as possible. If you are going out with a special someone, you don’t need to visit an expensive restaurant. The $80 bouquet of roses is unnecessary. If you NEED to get her flowers, hit up your local supermarket for the flowers and buy a unique vase to put them in. Skip the large heart-shaped box of mixed chocolates; it’s most likely they won’t be eaten anyway. Instead, splurge on a decent quantity of their favorite candy or make a homemade treat. Put it in a little decorative box and hand-write a little note on the outside. The idea is to make the other person feel special, not empty your bank account. I’m going to cover ideas below to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a “special someone” as well as a few fun and easy things to do with the little ones.

DINNER ~ If you have the extra cash and a reservation already made, then by all means skip this section. If you want something a little more from the heart and less from the wallet, then read on. A dinner at home can be made as intimate and special as an evening out. You just need to set the mood. Step one: find a grandma to take the kids for the evening! Next, make sure the house is clean and tidy, especially the dining area. Clutter is distracting and unappealing. It will ruin a mood as quickly as hearing “MOMMY” being yelled from the next room. Make sure the house smells nice. The idea is to have a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Make sure you are looking your best as well. Even if you're not going to an expensive restaurant, dress like you are. Going the extra mile on your appearance will make your partner feel special. Next, set the stage. Lay out a nice dark table-cloth, place a few candles in the dining room (just don't put any on the table that are so tall or big that they are distracting) lay out the nice dishes (NO PAPER PLATES!!!) and a couple of wine glasses. If you don’t have a set of wine glasses, invest in a set. They’re relatively inexpensive and add elegance. Have a bottle of wine chilling in the refrigerator. If you’re not very familiar with wine, try a White Zinfandel or Prosecco. Both are crisp and clean on the pallet. They also pair well with most rich, heavy or sweet foods. If you don't drink alcohol, buy a nice sparkling white grape juice.

Main Course ~ when I think of a romantic dinner I always think of pasta. The beauty is, Pasta is cheap & easy to prepare. Even with the most basic of kitchen skills you can create an amazing dish. Partner it with a salad, a loaf of crusty garlic bread and a decadent dessert and you have an unforgettable meal. I am going to give you my two favorite easy pasta recipes as a main dish; Carbonara and Chicken Parmesan.

Carbonara: This is a favorite dish in our home. The rich, creamy sauce is deceptive. It seems so complex but is actually quite simple…and has no cream! It takes around 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. However, it looks and tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Traditionally, this dish is made with pancetta, but I prefer to just use standard bacon. Also, if you like seafood, don't be afraid to toss in a little sauteed or grilled shrimp to the finished dish.

Ingredients:

·        ½ lb spaghetti noodles

·        1 pkg of bacon

·        4 eggs

·        ½ C grated Parmesan (buy real parm, don’t use the stuff in a canister)

·        ¼ C grated Romano

·        Garlic, salt & pepper to taste

Slice up the uncooked bacon into small sections (around 2”) put the bacon pieces in a large pot (NOT a skillet – think soup pot) and allow it to start frying. Allow it to cook until slightly crisp then remove from heat. While the bacon is frying, start boiling your spaghetti noodles. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl whisk together your eggs, cheeses and seasonings.

When your noodles are done, remove about half of the bacon grease from the pot and return it to a low heat. Toss the drained noodles into the pot of bacon (& bacon fat) and mix until all the noodles are well coated. Then pour the egg/cheese mixture on top of your bacon-noodles. Stir continuously over low heat until the egg/cheese mix starts to melt and become creamy. FYI…don’t be lazy. If you have it on high heat & don’t keep stirring it you will end up with scrambled eggs instead of a creamy sauce.

Chicken Parmesan: This is another dish that seems elegant and complicated, but is truly SO EASY! Use your favorite spaghetti sauce (homemade or store-bought) but do not add any ground meat to it.

Ingredients:

·        2-4 chicken breasts

·        1 pkg of original shake n bake

·        ¼ cup grated Parmesan (use the stuff in the canister)

·        Mozzarella cheese

·        Olive Oil

Start by getting your spaghetti noodles boiling and your sauce cooking. While that is on the stove, begin flattening the chicken breasts to about ¼” thick. You can beat them with a meat mallet and make a huge mess OR place a large sheet of plastic wrap on a cutting board. Place a chicken breast on the plastic wrap fold the plastic over the breast. Gently use a (glass) drinking glass to pound the chicken. It will flatten out easily. Sprinkle the flattened breasts with a little garlic, salt & pepper and set them aside. In the Shake N Bake bag, mix 1 pkg of the SnB with the Parmesan cheese. Shake each chicken breast in the bag until it is evenly coated. Put a little olive oil in a large frying pan and fry the coated chicken breasts over medium heat until they are golden and crispy on the outside. Try not to flip them more than once (so you don’t lose your coating. It shouldn’t take them more than a total of 15 minutes to fry. Once they are finished lay them out on a nice platter (or big plate). Immediately pour a little sauce over the top of each breast and sprinkle with mozzarella. By the time the platter reaches the table the cheese will be slightly melted and beautiful! Serve alongside the prepared spaghetti & sauce.

Dessert ~ Finish your meal with a dessert that is lovely and rich. Here is an easy dessert that is best if made ahead of time. I have a niece, who was born around Valentines Day and this is one of her favorite desserts. I think of her every time I make it!

Individual Chocolate Cheesecakes (8 servings)

Recipe & photo courtesy of kraftfoods.com

Ingredients:

·        1 (8 oz) pkg of cream cheese, softened

·        4 TBS of sugar

·        4 squares of semi sweet chocolate (melted)

·        2 C of Cool-whip

·        8 Oreos

·        Chocolate chips for garnish

·        Muffin Tin with 8 paper cups

Put an oreo in the bottom of each of the paper baking cups in the muffin tin.
Beat the cream cheese, sugar, & chocolate in a medium bowl with a wire whisk until well blended. Add in the cool whip & mix well. Pour the mixture on top of the oreos in the muffin tin. Sprinkle with chocolate chips & refrigerate at least 2 hours. To make the filling easier & prettier I put the filling in a large plastic bag, snip off one of the corners and “pipe” it into the muffin cups.


KIDS PLAY!! Creating hand-made personalized Valentines Day cards is the perfect way to spend quality time with your little one and create a one of a kind item for them to share. There are so many fun and creative ways to do this. Sure, we could buy our kids the valentine box-kit that comes with a lollipop, but what fun is that? If you make your own, you get to spend real time with your kid and they’re left with a real sense of self-accomplishment when they’re done. WIN-WIN! I’m going to show you a couple ideas that we’ve used. However, don’t be limited to what we have here. There is a fantastic website, http://familyfun.go.com/valentines-day/valentines-day-cards/ that has a ton of amazing ideas. From Hershey's Kiss Roses to really cool optical illusion photos. (Check out the ginormous lollipop idea!)

But I digress, last year we bought several 6 packs of the Kool-Aid Bursts for my son’s classmates, Diet Coke for one teacher and Red Bulls for the other two teachers. (It helps to know the teacher’s favorite beverage!) We then made little cards out of card-stock. (You could even use the store-bought ones). We used a hole-punch and put a hole in the top of the card, threaded ribbon through it and tied it around the neck of the bottle/can. It was a fun, unique idea and was quick and simple to do. For the Red Bull cans, a little piece of tape was used to help secure the ribbon to the top of the can. This can be a fun, surprising way to show anyone that you love them. (not just on Valentine's Day) I got the idea from my good friend, Katie. I was having a bad day at work and she left me a surprise; sitting on the desk was a bottle of coke that had a bunch of ribbons and a funny hand-made card tied around the neck. I couldn’t help but laugh & it really made my day.

This is the Valentine Aiden made this year to share with his classmates. We got the idea from the family fun website. They are heart-shaped multicolor crayons. We spent last Saturday sitting on the living room floor watching cartoons and peeling paper off of old broken crayons. We then put the crayons in a heart-shaped silicone mold I picked up for $2. The mold has 6 hearts in it so we made 3 batches. (FYI, the mold was discolored afterward and I wouldn’t be comfortable using it for future food-use) We put the silicone mold on a cookie sheet for stabilization and “baked” the crayons at 200º until they were melted. Then we carefully placed them in the freezer to harden. The result was these awesome little creations. The best crayons were the ones that had contrasting colors next to each other on the bottom of the mold. i.e: yellow next to blue, orange next to green, etc. We made a card from 2 contrasting colors of card-stock and put the heart-crayons and cards in small plastic bags. We then folded over a piece of the card-stock and stapled it to the top of the bag. We used matching letter-stickers to create the “Love, Aiden” sentiment, but only because we have several packages of them lying around. Otherwise, I would have used my printer! The great thing about this project is, that we finally figured out what to do with that big tub of broken crayons!!

Another way to show your family how you love them is to bake a little something special. This is a cupcake recipe that my Mom always made for us on Valentines Day. The recipe was handed down to her from her Mother. My Grandmother will probably haunt me for this, but I'm going to give you all her recipe. Don't be surprised or turned-off by the ingredient list...the uniqueness is probably why no one has ever been able to duplicate the rich moist cake. FYI, it is so moist it doesn't do well being baked as an actual cake...bake it as cupcakes.

Grandma Norman's Chocolate Cupcakes
Sift together:
2C flour
1/2 C Unsweetened Baking Cocoa
1 C Sugar
2tsp Baking Soda

Mix in separate bowl:
1 C Water
1 C Miracle Whip (yes...the mayo alternative, but do NOT use real Mayo!)
1 tsp Vanilla
Combine both mixtures, bake at 350 until a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes about 20 cupcakes

Icing
Mix:
2 TBS melted butter
1/2 bag of powdered sugar
approximately 2 TBS milk (If icing is too thick, add milk 1 tsp at a time. If it is too thin add more powdered sugar)

My Mom always topped them with the little heart-shaped “red hot” candies. However, I like to dip them in coconut. Either way (or plain) they are amazing.

Cupcakes can be stored at room temperature, but do not seal them in a container. Leave the lid "popped" a bit to allow for air circulation.

No matter what you do for Valentines Day this year, don’t lose sight of why (or who) you’re celebrating. The point isn’t all about seeing how much money you can spend and it’s not just for lovers. It’s about showing those around you how special they are.